ISO graphical symbols

help us every day. Find out

how !

The international language

ISO
graphical
of

About ISO
ISO is the International Organization for Standardization.
It has a membership of 164 national standards bodies from
countries large and small,
industrialized, developing and in transition, in all regions of the world.
ISOs portfolio of more than 19 400 standards provides business,
government and society with
practical tools for economic, environmental and societal dimensions of
sustainable development.
ISO/COPOLCO
has developed this leaflet to raise public awareness of ISO
About
ISO/COPOLCO
graphical symbols which
The
ISO safety
Committee
on consumer
(ISO/COPOLCO)
is ISOs
forum for
transmit
messages
and otherpolicy
important
information without
creating
promoting
consumers
language barriers.
interests in standardization. Its purpose is to focus input of consumers views
into ISOs policies,
procedures, standards and services, and to help consumers around the world benefit
from
standardization.
For further reference, see Shapes and colours on page 27, and References

The international language of

ISO graphical symbols

Graphical symbols are vital for giving information when written words are not
adequate.
International Standards developed by ISO (International Organization for
Standardization) provide
people all over the world with a coherent set of graphical symbols to help
overcome language and
other barriers.
A technical committee, ISO/TC 145, Graphical symbols, has defined
internationally accepted
requirements for designs, colours, content and shapes of graphical symbols.
These symbols convey important messages about product features, directions
and other aspects
of daily life whether at work, at home, or for leisure. Critical areas include
health and safetyrelated warnings, prohibitions and mandatory actions.

Never been to
Ambrosia before...
I just cant wait !

So glad to finally
get away...

Parking or car
parking
Mummy, are
we there
yet ?

No, dear, this is the

airport car park.
2

We have to
remember to change
some money.
Look ! Theres
the currency
exchange booth !

Money/currency
exchange
or bureau-dechange
3

Where is our gate,

please ?

Through the doors at

the end of the terminal.
Follow the departures
sign.

Flight
departures

Glad to have the wheelchair

back ! But I can't get up
the escalator !

Accessible elevator or
lift
Theres the lift !

I'
hungry !
m
It's true - we should
really eat something
before we board the
plane...

Glad to see the

restaurant sign !

Restaura
nt

Oh no, Emily, not

again ! Well, I just saw
where to change your
nappy...

Baby care or
nursery

Watch your step on

the way, dear !

Slippery
surface

No pacemakers allowed here.

How will we manage with my
mother-in-law ?

No access for persons

with
pacemaker
s
Please proceed
this way.

That flight went smoothly,

didnt it ? But how do we get
out of here ? I dont understand
any of this...

Here we go
way
out !

Way out or
exit

10

Now for the rental

car I reserved

Car
...Looks like rental
that must be
there !

11

Its good to be on
our way at last, but pity about the bad
weather ! We might as well have
stayed at home !
I just have to find where to
adjust the beam... Aah !
Here it is !

Low
beam

12

Its really
raining hard...

This car is very different from ours

but the windscreen wiper symbol is
the same that helps !

Windscreen
wiper

13

According to my directions
the hotel must be to the
left, do you see anything ?

Yes ! I can see

the hotel sign
that must be it !

Hote
l

14

Next
day

What a lovely place, isnt

it ? Its warm and sunny
today very nice for a
swim.

Looks like its

shallow water.

No
diving

15

Jack, watch out! You

shouldnt jump in
here !
Why not ?
Why cant
we ?
Look its
prohibited
!

No jumping into
water

16

Oh no, the
fire alarm !

Fire alarm call

point
Lets get out
everyone !
17

Grandma, I
think we have to
go over there...

Well done,
Jack !

Wheres the
exit ?

Emergency
exit
No need to read it, Daddy !
Look at the running man
on the sign !
18

Where do we
go now ?

Evacuation assembly
point
I think we
have to gather
over there.
19

Next
day

Oh, Mother !
Didnt you
see
the not drinking
water sign ?

Oh, I havent felt

well since I took that
drink from the tap...

Not drinking
water

I need to go to
the doctor.

20

Dont worry Grandma,

I see the hospital
sign !

Hospit
al

21

I am so happy youre feeling

better, Mother, shall we take
Emily to the beach ?

That would be lovely,

dear, and i just saw
the information sign !

Informatio
n

22

Meanwhile, Dad and Jack decide to do

something
more adventurous...

Why do we have
to put these funny
things on ?

The sign there tells us

that we must wear a life
jacket because we are
going in a speedboat.

Wear personal
flotation
device
s
23

Go, water !
Wait, darling, people are
surfing here, so we have to
go a little farther...

Surf craft
area

24

Oh,
no
No swimming
here either ?

Time to go
to the
pool.

No
swimming

25

What a lovely vacation

that was !

Why ?

No need to speak
Ambrosian to understand
the graphical symbols !

Because they
are the same in
Ambrosia as
at home !

Flight
arrivals

26

Shapes and
colours
of international safety
The safety signs illustrated in this leaflet comply with design rules standardized
signs
and
published by ISO.
The general public will encounter safety signs in a variety of situations,
including in
workplaces, public areas and on products. The standardized colours
and basic shapes for
safety signs are therefore important in helping to ensure that the
different types of safety
signs, and the safety messages they convey, are easily recognizable.
Several safety signs are included in the story of the Smith familys
holiday.
Further
of types
safety
signs are shown
on the signs
In some examples
cases, safety
signsofwill
be accompanied
by additional
following
pages.
or supplementary
text to help make the safety message clear.

27

Warning
sign

How to recognize ?
Yellow triangle with black
border
and black symbol.

General warning
sign

What is the type of safety message ?

Warns of hazards which could result in
personal injury or
threat to health.

This sign will be accompanied by text or

additional
signs to explain the reasons for the
warning.

Warning :
Electricity

Warning : Hot
surface

28

Prohibition
sign

How to recognize ?

General prohibition
sign

Red ring and diagonal bar with black

symbol on white
background.

What is the type of safety message ?

Specifies behaviour that is prohibited because it
would result in an immediate or potential risk of
personal injury or threat to health.

This sign will be accompanied by text or

additional
signs to explain the nature of the
prohibition.

No
smoking

Do not use lift in the event

of fire

29

Mandatory action
sign

How to recognize ?
Blue circle with white
symbol.

General mandatory
action sign

What is the type of safety message ?

Specifies an action required to safeguard personal
health
and/or avoid risk of personal injury.

This sign will be accompanied by text or

additional
signs to explain the nature of the
required action.

Wear protective
gloves

Refer to instruction
manual/booklet

30

Safe condition
sign

How to recognize ?
Green square with white
symbol.

Emergency
telephone

What is the type of safety message ?

Identifies evacuation routes and assembly points.
Indicates the location of first aid and emergency
equipment
or a safety facility or a safety action.

Break to obtain
access

Emergency exit (right

hand)

31

Fire safety
sign

How to recognize ?
Red square with white symbol,
and always
including representation of flames in
white.

Fire
extinguisher

What is the type of safety

message ?

Indicates the location of fire equipment.

Fire alarm call
point

32

References and useful

Websites
ISO Online : www.iso.org
ISO Online Browsing Platform (including standards
previews, graphical
symbols, codes, and terms and definitions) : www.iso.org
Relevant International
/obp
Standards
The ISO 3864 series of standards which specify design requirements,

including
shapes and colours,
for safety signs
The ISO/IEC 80416 series of standards which specify basic principles for graphical
symbols for use on equipment
ISO 7000, Graphical symbols for use on equipment Registered symbols
ISO 7001, Graphical symbols Public information symbols
ISO 7010, Graphical symbols Safety colours and safety signs Registered safety
signs
ISO 17724, Graphical symbols Vocabulary
ISO 20712-1, Water safety signs and beach safety flags Part 1 : Specifications for water safety
signs used in
workplaces and public areas
ISO 20712-2, Water safety signs and beach safety flags Part 2 : Specifications for beach safety
flags Colour,
shape, meaning and performance

ISO Central
Secretariat
1, chemin de la VoieCreuse
Case postale 56
CH - 1211 Genve 20
Switzerland
E-mail central@iso.org
Web
ISBN www.iso.org
978-92-67-10605-2
ISO, 2013-01/3000. All rights
reserved